Chapter 7.4: Pharmaceutical Preparations of Dhamargava (Dhamargava Kalpa Adhyaya / धामार्गवकल्प अध्याय)
Sixty pharmaceutical preparations of Dhamargava (Luffa cylindrica, sponge gourd) for inducing therapeutic emesis, with focus on poisoning, abdominal masses, and kapha disorders.
Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan by Vagbhata
This chapter describes 60 pharmaceutical preparations of Dhamargava (sponge gourd, Luffa cylindrica) for emetic therapy. The drug possesses ubhayatobhagahara (dual upward-downward) action, making it particularly effective for deep-seated diseases including poisoning, abdominal masses, ascites, and chronic kapha conditions. The formulations range across tender leaf pills, milk preparations, decoctions, pastes, inhalants, and linctus forms. Modern pharmacological studies document anti-inflammatory, antiemetic, antifungal, and analgesic activities.